Heading to Maple Lake Ontario Soon! (PHOTO) #maplelake #ontario #algonquinhiglands
Ξ June 18th, 2013 | → 0 Comments | ∇ Algonquin Township, beach, Canada, cottage country, family, Maple Lake Ontario, My dog, Obi, Ontario, personal, Photography, summertime, sunrise, Travel/Vacation |
Maple Lake Morning (Cr: C. McCrackan)
In a matter of days, ‘we’ (spouse and me and our younger dog Obi, a male Corgi-Pug mix) will set out on a 700-mile journey to Maple Lake, Ontario, Canada.
As I’ve recounted before, I’ve been going to ‘the lake’ since I was about 7 months old. That is over a half-century. Much has changed. Though not crowded, there are many more cottages and homes on the lake. The road ‘in’ is no longer gravel, but asphalt. Most noticeable though is the loss of beloved friends and family members who were once fixtures, part of the the landscape of Maple Lake.
Back in the old days, when we’d needed to make a phone call (as in REALLY needed) we’d hike up the gravel road which then bore no name, to the home of Ted and Gerri Carr, wonderful neighbours, who lived at Maple Lake year-round. I remember Gerri offering us kids cookies when we visited and Ted showing off his small collection of farm animals. They are all gone now, though there is a surplus of telephones.
There is missing of course, my grandmother Alice, who I’ve mentioned many times and later, at age 101, the architect of our cottage compound, my grandfather, Frank. My dad’s best friend, who was my uncle as well, passed on far too early as did our long-time neighbour.
It’s true that there has been a great deal of loss, the most recent, the death of my mother who loved the lake as much as anyone could.
Still, there is a serenity, a peacefulness that you can only truly appreciate after your arrival. Generally, because I’m a night worker when not on vacation, we leave ‘late’ and arrive early. Dawn is usually just breaking by the time we get to Maple Lake and oh! what a beautiful sight it is! My tradition upon arrival is to first make a quick trip down the dozen or so rock steps that my grandfather put in with his own hands, to the lake to ‘say hello.’
The break of day is among the most satisfying times to experience Maple Lake. Usually, the water is a still as glass with everything above and around it reflected, amplifying their beauty as well as the beauty of the lake itself. It’s also very quiet, a perfect time to sit down for a few minutes and unwind from the trip. Each time I do this, I feel my heart expand with joy and I feel the contentment of being one with my surroundings.
